It has been a great, but very long day. I got up extra early and hit some trails in North Alabama with a couple of friends for some responsible and socially distant, much-needed reconnect and recharge time. One of the weirdest things to adjust to has been not seeing people in 3D and not being able to hang out and take each other for granted. Well, that and the taking care of loved ones who are also stressed, not driving your spouse and kid crazy, keeping the wheels of essential industry turning in challenging and uncertain times while dealing with the necessities of daily existence in an era when empathy and looking out for your fellow human is increasingly politicized and sometimes derided, I mean besides those basics, it’s just really weird not to see people you love. So, when you get the chance, if you can do it in a responsible way, it is worth it to go way out in the middle of nowhere and laugh and cut up with each other from ten feet away. Especially if there’ s some hiking and picnicking involved. The thing is, it’s hot out there and the sun, she is a devil mistress, sapping you of your precious bodily fluids, even as she delivers vitamin D and recharges your batteries. As I drifted in, well after curfew, I realized I was sunburned and dehydrated, so it was time to recharge in a different way, with a bunch of cool, clear well water followed by a Cucumber Gimlet.

This is a fun one, that is worth the extra steps. If I’d been clever I would have started yesterday and infused some gin with cucumber and rosemary, but I was not clever. So, grab your tins, pop in 3-4 slices of cucumber and 10-12 rosemary leaves and muddle to break them up well and release all the flavors and essential oils. To that add 3/4 ounces of fresh squeezed lime juice, 1/4 ounce of simple syrup, 2 ounces of Gin, I went with Corsair Barrel-Aged because it is wonderful and I had just enough for one drink left, 3-4 drops of Crude Bitters Rosemary, Grapefruit, Peppercorn flavor, some ice and you are ready to shake. I gave it a good hard shake to really beat up those botanicals and blend all the flavors. Double strain into a chilled coupe and garnish with a thin slice of cucumber. Take a sip and think, damn that’s refreshing, almost as refreshing as a day in the sun, laughing and being human out in the world with people you love. Stay safe, stay hydrated and stay sane, my friends.